Team Herald
CAMURLIM: Camurlim panchayat and locals fear ecological impact due to the illegal sand extraction being carried out, which, they say, may lead to a natural disaster. Due to this illegal sand mining activity there is extra vehicular movement on the roads which, they alleged, is definitely going to negatively impair the environment. The excess extraction of sand could also adversely affect the normal course of the river which could either lead to river erosion or will lead to flooding during the monsoon.
Vishant Gaonkar, a local, told Herald that the number of trucks transporting sand has increased over the last couple of months. “Depletion of sand in the river bed will have an adverse effect and could lead to irreversible ecological damage,” claimed Gaonkar.
“Sand is being extracted at night and the vehicles playing with the sand carry out their transportation between 3.00 am and 9.00 am. They should ensure no disturbance is caused to the children and senior citizens resting during this time. This activity should not be carried out between 6 pm and 6 am yet during the night this illegal work is being done. Even the labourers engaged in the activity are causing nuisance and disturbance. There are around 350 workers who are defecating in the open,” Vishant added.
A local on condition of anonymity pointed out that they are not against sand extraction but it should be done under permissible limits.
“If sand continues to be extracted then not only us but also our future generation will suffer. This sand is definitely being extracted illegally and hence it is taking place rampantly during late nights. Due to this activity there has also been an increase of migrants in the village. If sand continues to be extracted rampantly it won’t be late that the river bed will collapse,” she said.
